Dr. Joseph Nwobike, a former Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who was convicted by a Lagos State High Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice and sentenced to one month imprisonment, has lost his appeal at Appellate Court.
Nwobike, who has since served his sentence, challenged the lower court’s decision at the Appeal Court.
The appeal against the judgment was dismissed for lack of merit.
A three-man panel presided over by Justices Joseph Ikyegh unanimously held that the lower court properly convicted the lawyer in accordance with Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The panel, however, discharged and acquitted Nwobike of the charge of offering gratification to a Federal High Court judge, Justice Mohammed Yinusa.
The appellant formulated 14 grounds of appeal and raised six issues for determination through his counsel Olawale Akoni SAN.
The EFCC opposed the appeal through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, who raised two issues in defence.
Nwobike’s counsel, Olawale Akoni said afterwards that the legal team would appeal the conviction to the Supreme Court.
Other Justices on the panel are Jamilu Tukur and Ebiowei Tobi.
Last year May 18, Justice Raliat Adebiyi convicted Nwobike of 12 out of 18 counts bordering on attempt to pervert the course of justice.
She sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment on each of the 12 counts but said the sentences would run concurrently.
The judge said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, proved beyond reasonable doubts that the SAN was in constant communication with court officials to influence the assignment of his cases to his preferred judges.
The EFCC accused Nwobike of offering monetary gratification to judges of the Federal High Court to influence them to give judgments in his favour.
He was accused of giving N750,000 to Justice Mohammed Yunusa, while he had cases pending before the judge.
He was also accused of having constant communication, through text messages, with the registrar of Justice Musa Kurya, Mrs. Helen Ogunleye.
